The Borealis Prophecy

Chapter Sixteen - Ascending

Simon later explained to me that Ric didn't tell Elijah about his plans with Simon. Ric was on the bad side of things for a while, long before he met me. Ric tried to denounce himself as Seraphina's follower and denounced his allegiance to her; Seraphina became wicked and wiped his entire family, leaving him alone.

The plane appeared invisible, only detected as the sun reflected off the glass. The aircraft that came to pick us up was of the Air&Wind Borough and as it descended from the skies it was only detected once it was on the ground reflecting our bodies on the mirrors. We boarded the plane and as we did we noticed that we were walking on clear glistening glass comparable to the one way glass in an interrogation room in a police department. As the plane ascended into the air, I watched with Elijah as the Oasis we made home, withered to the size of a lentil. Now twenty minutes later, it disappeared into miles of blue.

Luli was brought into a separate room so the Air&Wind Elementals could keep a close eye on her. Elijah led me to a white sectional couch that silver and white pillows were fashionably thrown on. I stayed quiet and content, watching outside the clear walls of the plane, just enjoying being in his company. Elijah quietly chatted with me and Simon and avoided the topic of my parent completely.

And then there was Ric, who was forlornly watching me from across the plane. Quietly, he stirred a small round glass of liquid. Even from across the room, as he peculiarly leaned against the plane's wall, the smell of the alcohol still penetrated me from here.

It stung all of my senses, or was it his presence that made all of my senses prickle?

I couldn't be sure.

He watched me closely with his dark almond eyes as he slowly lifted the cup to his lips. I didn't understand why alcohol was so favourable to Elijah and Ric... It smells bad and it tastes even worse.

I averted my eyes from Ric's blazing eyes, and stood up. My sudden movement startled Elijah who jumped up, asking if I needed anything.

"I'm just going to go see Luli," I assured him.

"You... You want me to come?" he hesitated asking me. I chuckled.

"I made it four weeks in the desert without you; I can go one hour," I teased.

He looked at me guilt ridden, and I immediately wanted to swallow down what I said to him, "Elijah, I'll be fine. You're too sweet."

He smiled, seeming a little more reassured and glanced back at the television. Dave was staring at me as I walked towards him because he was sitting in front of her room. I gulped awkwardly and shifted uncomfortably, ready for Dave to pick a fight with me. I was rehearsing what I would say to him, something simple and to the point so I could see Luli and avoid Elijah or... ugh... Ric coming to my aid during Dave's demeaning rants about me.

I stood in front of him and Dave's staring wasn't as unpleasant as I thought it to be. Dave looked more thoughtful as I approached him. To my surprise, he instead apologized for his behaviour and the way he's been treating me.

Dave was thankful that Luli had a friend like me, who would risk their life for her. It was just hard for him to see me in the same light that Luli shone on me, being that I am the biological daughter of Queen Seraphina.

Although I had a few choice words that I would have preferred to say–for making me feel more worthless and kicking me while I was already down-, I accepted his apology.

Luli clearly was in love with him, and there was nothing this Elemental wouldn't do for her. For me that was an apology enough in these desperate times.

I walked in Luli's room and saw that Gloria was holding her hand. I squeezed beside Gloria, and rested my head on her shoulder. Gloria placed Luli's hand back to her side when a very petite nurse named Ariella walked into the room. She smiled at me with the biggest sky blue eyes I've ever seen. There was no doubt in my mind that she was an Air&Wind Elementist. Her demeanour was calming and her actions were swift yet graceful. Nurse Ariella lifted her arm and stuck a needle pumping pink clear liquid into one of her bright blue veins.

The plane finally landed somewhere above the skies. Dave helped Luli out of bed, to watch alongside us, while the plane descended into the clouds. Luli gaped as she watched the forever-moving clouds, where tall houses were nothing like the small humble communities on earth. This was her fist experience in a Borough and I was glad it was this one, one that wasn't tainted with the burden of my home wrecking skills.

These houses were huge, almost of skyscraper heights. The ground was nothing but bountiful clouds.

This truly was a city in the heavens.

Clouds floated throughout the Borough, drifting through the tall glistening glass of the buildings. There were birds that glided through the skyscrapers singing songs of luminous joy; greeted by gusts of wind that carried them forth. The stars that should be hiding under a blanket of bright sunlight, shone through the blue skies like small sparklers.

The faint crystal palace sharpened as we ambled closer. It was beautiful as the sunlight reflected from the glass, sparkling like an ascending star. Through my admiring, I feebly heard Simon's voice traveling through the wind tickling my ears. He was unaware that I could hear his whispering to Elijah, a conversation they didn't want me to hear.

"When are you going to tell her about Ric?" he asked.

I watched Elijah's neck stiffen.

As hard as I tried, I could no longer hear them. The wind wasn't as friendly as I was hoping, neither was my feeble attempt at stealth as Ric tried to distract me as they spoke. Almost instantaneously.

The doors to the Palace were huge and almost unbelievable, created entirely from wind and clouds that surrounded the doors entrance. The doors were so energetic with power, it was impossible to see through them. They moved rhythmically to the sway of the winds breeze.

The Air&Wind palace's first royal heirs designed the castle doors. Carefully and beautifully.

To make Elijah happy, I tagged along to see Doctor Havenfield with Luli just to make sure I was alright. One of the Air&Wind Elementals in the palace, led us to the infirmary. I waited outside of the small room and opened a magazine. To my surprise, they read the same magazines they did on earth, rather than something a little more Elementist friendly.

My ears picked up a light chuckle coming from the room. I felt a gentle cool vapour pass by and voices carried through. I heard the Doctor laughing softly at a wise crack Luli made.

He mentioned, "I do have to say though; for a human girl, you are pretty darn tough. I mistook you for Aurora. You make a great Elemental."

She was quiet for a moment until she broke the silence between them, "Is there any way I could make it permanent?"

I perked up. Why in the heck would she ever want to be an Elemental? It's not glamorous. It's not fun. It's not safe. I stood up ready to enter the room, to confront her but instead the doctor managed to ask, "Why would you ever want to be like this?"

I stopped at the door and I heard him faintly whispering to her, "Being human is such a beautiful gracious gift. You have the freedom that we lust for."

"I can't stand just getting in Aurora's way. I'm just a pawn for these guys. I need to be able to fight back; to protect her," Luli pleaded, "Please... is there a way?"

I heard nothing, but I stammered back when the doorknob clicked. Like lightning, I planted myself in my seat with a magazine open on my lap. Luli didn't suspect I was listening, but the doctor caught me.

"So how long do I have to wear this for?" Luli asked him fingering the needle that pierced her arm. She had a tiny tube inserting a clear blue liquid into her from the small black box that she carefully placed in her new jean's back pocket.

"Just for tonight, it should all be diluted and flushed out from your system by tomorrow morning," the Doctor said.

"Diluting what exactly?" I managed to ask.

"Her element. She'll be human again in no time," he added carefully, "but she needs to be monitored. I hope it's okay if you share a room. Nurse Ariella may periodically check in on you two."

I nodded.

I walked into his office and carefully shut the door behind me. Doctor Havenfield stitched up my open gash on my arm and he gave me ice for my bruised and now swollen eye. I received a small bottle of capsules and was directed to take three pills consecutively to treat the pain I hadn't felt until now.